Stress-Free Baby Registries

Creating a baby registry can be an overwhelming experience for the first-time parent-to-be. There are so many options out there! Which gizmos and gadgets are the best? Do you really need a changing table? How much stuff do babies need, anyway? And where should you register?

In a perfect world you have two people to go with you when you register: a new-mom friend and a veteran mom - maybe your own.

While I can't go register with you, I can help you sort through the maze of lists and must-haves every new parent gets lost in. Below is advice for the dazed and confused parent-to-be as you navigate your way through the registration process.

First Of All...

For now focus on the first six months. Thinking too far beyond that will stress you out. Remember, babies grow and develop at their own rates, so you don't want to buy or register for things now that will end up collecting dust later.

Before you go, check out some online reviews of items you think you want or need, and go to some message boards to read what other new moms are saying. Sites like babycenter.com and parenting.com let you join their message boards for free. New moms generally love to dish about what products they love or hate, and why.

While you browse and post, consider what brands and models and products do new parents like or not like, and why? Ask questions. Be specific. It's great if you read a mom extolling the virtues of a particular diaper pail. It's another thing to find out that she likes it because she enjoys the smell of dirty diapers.

Consider Your Space

Do you live in a small apartment, or a large house? Do you have easy access to storage space? Are there a lot of stairs for you to climb on a daily basis? Where will the baby sleep? If he has his own room, is it close enough to yours to hear him without a baby monitor?

How much space you have and how it is set up will determine how much furniture and large toy items (bouncy seats, Exersaucers, etc.) you can buy for your baby. If you lack space, look for multi-purpose furniture. Dressers with a wide top are a good option - add a changing pad on top, and you have a dresser/changing table. Or, just buy a changing pad that you can move around as needed.

Remember, baby clothes do not really need to hang up, so you'll need plenty of drawers and shelves. Also, things like diapers, wipes, and wash cloths are best kept in a place that's within easy reach, like a mid-level shelf.

How's the Weather?

Do you live in an area with major climate changes from season to season? If so, keep in mind that six months after your baby is born the weather will be totally different. Buy or register for larger size clothes in the opposite season from your due date.

One-piece outfits are easy to layer under other clothes. Blankets, too, are great for layering. They also provide an easy way to transport your baby in the cold without bundling him up in 18 pounds of clothes. A few months later those blankets are great for spreading out on the grass for a picnic, or when your baby starts to need a "lovey."

The Cuter the Outfit, the Less Practical It Probably Is

While we're on the subject of clothing your baby, here are two golden rules to keep in mind:

One, no matter how adorable an outfit may be, remember that you will be the one trying to squeeze a tiny, wriggly, floppy, uncooperative little monster into it. Since babies require many diaper changes per day, do you really want to be fighting Junior into and out of an outfit with five buckles, sixteen buttons, three zippers, and four separate pieces at least three times before lunch?

Two, people love baby clothes. I promise you, people are going to buy clothes for your baby. People you probably don't even know are going to buy clothes for your baby. And those people will be shopping for cuteness, not practicality. So as you create your registry, keep in mind Rule #1, above. One-pieces are good. T-shirts are good. Pull-up pants are good. Snaps are good, as are zippers that run the length of the outfit.

Newborns Can't Read

The younger they are, the less complicated your baby's stimulation needs to be. Finger puppets, simple blocks, stacking toys, and colorful stuffed animals are great for the first six months of your baby's life. Remember, batteries cost money. Anything that requires batteries likely also makes noise. Noise you will hear over and over and over and over again every single day, day after day.

Board books are great for little ones because they are durable. Babies can gnaw on them. The pages are easy for their little fingers to grasp and turn. Look for lots of bright, primary colors and faces.

Register Early, Register Often

Having an online registry is great because it lets people order gifts and ship them directly to you. Don't narrow your registry to one site. Pick two, or even three, and give people plenty of options on price. Don't be afraid to register for "big-ticket" items like strollers and cribs, as you never know when your friends will chip in to buy those for you.

If you have a lot of older friends and family, make sure to register at one chain, brick-and-mortar store. That way people have the option of going to a store to buy something in person.

Trust Your Gut

Finally, keep in mind that there is no way you can predict all of your baby's needs before he's even born, so cut yourself a little slack. There will be things you buy or register for that you wind up not needing. There will also be things you are positive you won't need that you run out to buy a month after giving birth. Accept that, and don't fault yourself for it.

Remember, too, that baby care companies are out to make money. They do that by making you feel like you are the Worst Parent Ever! if you don't buy the fanciest, most expensive product out there. Do you really need an electric warmer for your baby's wipes if he's going to be born in the summer? Do you need a $200 cashmere embroidered blanket for a creature who will spend his first three months of life spitting up after every meal?

Of course you want what's best for your new little one, but trust yourself a little bit. All your baby really needs, especially early on, is your love and attention. Keep him clean and fed and well-rested. Everything else is just flash. You don't have to spend a lot of money or buy the trendiest products to be a good parent. You just have to love your baby.